Night Like That (rewritten)

twenty one

It was simple, being with Chastity, Ivy thought. She had initially thought it was going to be difficult, that her emotions would end up chocking the two of them and that, untimely, Chastity was going to call it quits, break up with her in every sense of the word and that she was going to be alone in the world with no one left but Mama Boi, Pendo and maybe even Kiptum. 

She was pleasantly surprised when she realised that Chastity was probably choking on her emotions much like she was. This was evidence of just how much fucking happened in her flat. It was surprising in the way it was addictive. And every time it would happen, she would take the opportunity to tell her just how much she loved her. 

Ivy had wanted to know when the love had started but she thought it best to table the discussion until she was more sure of them. Unlike herself, she was of the very real suspicion that it was a recent occurrence and rocking the boat might rock the very fibre of her being. Besides, how would she broker the discussion that she had been in love with her for ten whole years? Even she would take a step back from her.

It was afternoon and it was uncharacteristically hot. All the windows were open and the both of them were dressed in flimsy tanks and barely-there shorts. Ivy wanted to concentrate on her work but her eyes kept on darting towards Chastity. It didn't matter how much she got to touch her and savour her, she always felt new. She was exquisite in the only way honey could be when left untouched for a thousand years. She could scarcely believe, any time she would wake up, that she was with Chastity in that one way she had craved for so long. She felt like the very best of dreams.

"You're doing it again," Chastity said, not raising her head from the book. 

Past Ivy would have quickly looked away. The new Ivy, however, harboured no such inhibitions. She was not sorry for looking and worshipping as much as she was because Chastity deserved that and so much more. She was put on earth to be worshipped and it would be completely remiss for Ivy not to do it. She deserved to have the word 'Sinner' curved large and bold on her skin for not doing the only thing worth doing on earth.

"You look breathtaking today," she finally said, smiling and giving her full attention to Chastity. 

"I am sweaty," Chastity said, eyes focused on her book.

"You're simply glistening against the sun."

"I am breathy."

"Your sound is putting the birds' chirping to shame."

"I am irritable."

"I would be too if I was forced to exist among us."

Chastity looked up, dropped her book, reached for the closest cushion, and threw it at Ivy. "What did I say about your concerning poetry?"

Ivy had caught it with ease, smiling brighter still. "Poetry? This? I am just stating facts about you. Should I decide to write poetry, it would be longer and grander. I would make everyone around you die with jealousy."

Chastity rolled her eyes. Her phone pinged. Ivy laughed. So much was perfect she didn't even hate the heat that felt almost punishing. The small smile that had been playing on Chastity's lips fell as she looked at her phone a moment longer. "What is it?" Ivy asked in concern, as she got to her feet, ready to defend her should it come down to it. She wasn't sure though how she would do it on the phone. She was notorious for not having a sharp tongue. 

"The one snake has finally been removed. Apparently, it was a grass snake and not harmful at all. It was too young to have a mate or eggs so I can move back home as soon as now."

While in the throws of love confessions, they had never really talked about what was to happen after. As a caution, she had suggested they put a limit to their canoodling to coincide with the day she got to go back to her flat. Besides, part of her had wanted Chastity to forget about her one moment of weakness. Better yet, she had hoped she would suggest living with her forever even though it would have been impractical. She had the better flat of the two. She was the one who was supposed to move in with her but it didn't look like Chastity was going to suggest as such anytime soon. 

"So, are you leaving then?" Ivy hoped she didn't sound as panicked as she felt.

"Do you want me to?"

She fought against all the panicked thoughts that were flooding her. "'Course not. Why would I want that? I want us to live together forever."

She hadn't noticed until then that Chastity seemed to share the same emotions as her. It was the sudden sigh of obvious relief that gave her away. "So that we can fuck forever or so that I can read your, what was that again? Poetry?"

Ivy smiled and dropped a kiss on top of her head. "I'll have you know that my chart says I'll become a really famous poet one day. Watch this space." Chastity giggled. She enjoyed the sound of her giggles as much as she did the noises she made when they were intimate. "Hey, do you want us to become official?"

Chastity stopped. "Were we not?"

She shrugged. "Neither of us said anything and I thought you still wanted to stick to the timeline we made."

"Well then," she turned to face Ivy, "I would like for us to be girlfriends. Do you want to be my girlfriend for forever?"

Ivy turned to face the window, finger on her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. "I don't know. That sounds super binding. Plus, forever? Isn't that too much?" Chastity slightly slapped her arm and Ivy pretended to be in so much pain. "I mean, am I open to being attacked like this for my opinions?" 

She looked at her. Studied every crevice of her face. Enjoyed how her lips were lifted up in a smile and how the corners of her eyes crinkled up in delight. Forever, she decided, was not nearly enough. If there was something above the forever, then she would take it. She wanted to be there for all of it. To experience everything with Chastity by her side. She wanted to be her shadow in the way she was her light and forever was simply not apt a description enough.

"I would even love to be more than that. I want to be your everything and you mine."

Chastity smiled. "So cringe."

"For you, my dear, always."

*

I had been putting off writing this chapter because I felt like I needed to write more but a more rational part of me knew this was where the story should end. I don't like dragging things out. Thank you so much for joining me on this wonderful journey and I hope you stay tuned for the other stories I am going to upload!